eversion
- June 7, 2010
- Zaratustra Productions
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Eversion," a single-player horror platformer, offers a good story, stellar gameplay, beautiful graphics, and a compelling soundtrack. As Zee Tee, rescue the Princess in a dimension-shifting journey through eight unique worlds, with retro-style platform gameplay and hand-drawn pixel art. Discover hidden lands, surprising plot twists, and earn one of three different endings for an unforgettable experience, especially when played alone at night.
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Reviews
- Eversion is a unique platformer that cleverly combines cute aesthetics with a dark, unsettling twist, making it a memorable experience.
- The eversion mechanic adds depth to the gameplay, allowing players to manipulate the environment and solve puzzles creatively.
- Despite its short length, the game offers multiple endings and collectibles, providing replay value for completionists.
- The game can be frustratingly difficult at times, with imprecise controls and hitboxes that may lead to repeated deaths.
- Eversion is quite short, taking only a couple of hours to complete, which may leave some players wanting more content.
- The soundtrack can become repetitive, and the lack of audio options may detract from the overall experience.
- gameplay140 mentions
- 36 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Eversion" is characterized by its unique eversion mechanic, allowing players to switch between different layers of the game world, which adds a puzzle element to the platforming experience. While the platforming controls are generally smooth and the level design is solid, many players find the gameplay to be simplistic and short, lacking in replayability and depth compared to other platformers. Overall, the game offers an intriguing but ultimately straightforward experience that combines lighthearted visuals with darker themes, making it a fun, albeit brief, platforming adventure.
“Eversion is a short but fun platformer with an interesting mechanic: everting through the different layers of the game, you can slightly manipulate terrain and circumstances in order to advance from world to world.”
“The gameplay mechanics dealing with the platforming and puzzle elements of having to deal with ‘changing’ the environment so that its properties shift and you are able to continue your progress collecting gems or just finishing the level are sound and entertaining.”
“It's a straightforward puzzle-platformer that introduces an interesting, but simple, mechanic and then lets you explore how that mechanic interacts with levels.”
“There is no replayability in this game as there are no end game mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
“The platforming is sketchy (you must be pixel perfect to jump on one empty space), the evert mechanic is annoying, the soundtrack is annoying, and the game itself feels unfinished (you can't restart the level and the game suddenly closes after the ending scene).”
“The gameplay is frustrating to say the least and is not 'fluid' or 'tight' as some might say.”
- music103 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 60 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players praising its ability to enhance the atmosphere and fit the mood of each level, while others find it repetitive and occasionally grating. Many appreciate the chiptune soundtrack and its role in creating a whimsical yet eerie experience, though some tracks are noted to be less enjoyable, particularly when they loop after deaths. Overall, the soundtrack is seen as a significant aspect of the game, contributing to both its charm and its unsettling themes.
“Atmosphere is great, music is wonderful, controls great and the mechanics of the game make it a really interesting and fun play.”
“The music is cheery when the level is cheery, the music is somber when the level is somber, and the music is dreadful when the level is dreadful.”
“The music helps with the effect, though it may get on your nerves if you end up in a stage too long.”
“Even the music is pretty tedious and repetitive.”
“The platforming is sketchy (you must be pixel perfect to jump on 1 empty space), the evert mechanic is annoying, the soundtrack is annoying, and the game itself feels like unfinished (you can't restart the level and the game suddenly closes after the ending scene).”
“Its music is throbbingly annoying and will be engrained in your mind forever (think the music of Pokémon), especially the song that plays on the first level.”
- graphics87 mentions
- 24 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Eversion" are characterized by a charming 16-bit aesthetic that evolves from cheerful to unsettling as players progress through the game. While the Steam version offers enhanced visuals and smoother performance compared to the free version, some players note a lack of customization options and find the graphics to be simple yet effective in conveying the game's darker themes. Overall, the visuals are praised for their creativity and ability to complement the gameplay, despite some critiques regarding their basic nature and the game's short length.
“The graphics are brilliant for what they are, really capturing the feel of older titles.”
“The graphics range from cute to horrific and the music changes appropriately, providing complete immersion.”
“With gruesome graphics that are somehow cute no matter the level, and a disturbingly saccharine soundtrack, Eversion is sure to keep you entertained.”
“The graphics are passable.”
“For the price, this graphics package is quite underwhelming.”
“This is a very short game (about an hour), with very lackluster graphics.”
- story57 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 79 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The game's story is largely criticized for being minimal or non-existent, with many players noting that it lacks depth and replayability. While some appreciate the cute premise of a character named Zee Tee on a quest to save a princess, others find the narrative superficial and predictable, with little to engage players beyond the initial experience. Overall, the story is seen as a weak aspect of the game, failing to provide a compelling or immersive experience.
“You play as a cute little flower named Zee Tee who is on a brave quest to save the princess!”
“There is an underlying story to this game rather than the generic 'save the princess' bit, and when you really pay attention to what's going on, well... no spoilers here.”
“However, as per the game's title, there are many layers to this quaint little story, just as there are layers to the world itself.”
“The setup in the game for the story is mostly non-existent.”
“The story is basically nonexistent.”
“I would only recommend Eversion if you plan to play it just once, and simply for the 'story' (that doesn't really exist).”
- atmosphere31 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is a compelling blend of cheerful aesthetics that gradually shift to a darker, more unsettling tone as players progress, creating a unique experience that balances cuteness with horror. While the music and scenery effectively enhance this atmosphere, some players feel that the platforming mechanics detract from the overall experience. Overall, the atmosphere is praised for its depth and ability to evoke a range of emotions, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Eversion is a short and atmospheric platformer, which can be both cute and horrifying.”
“The music and scenery reflect the current atmosphere of the game very well, and become more and more involved the more you progress through it.”
“The game starts with a very cheerful and pleasant aesthetic, but every eversion makes things more drastically different than how they started, initially making silly and funny changes but gradually becoming darker and more sinister in theme until the game's atmosphere is really unsettling.”
“This is why I can't recommend this game at $5, because I feel like very little effort was put into creating a creepy atmosphere.”
“The game's atmosphere never ends up being as scary as it tries to be and most of the platforming is frustrating due to the unrefined controls.”
- replayability21 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 67 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited, with many reviewers noting a lack of endgame mechanics and a short playtime of around one to two hours. While some players appreciate the charm and simplicity, as well as the presence of collectibles and multiple endings, the overall consensus is that once the game is completed, there is little incentive to return.
“There are multiple endings and a time attack mode, so there is some replay value.”
“Replayability is encouraged, and I highly recommend that you collect all the gems to unlock more content and get all the achievements.”
“The game has some replayability value to it with collectibles in each level and multiple endings.”
“There is no replayability in this game as there are no end game mechanics, no map metrics to try to beat, and no engrossing story to return to.”
“You can beat it in a half-hour and 100% it in an hour, and how much replay value it has after that will depend on how much you like chilling in weirdsville with a monster flower while the void screams 'mother' at you.”
“The only negative aspect is that I doubt there is any replay value once you've unlocked all the secrets the game has to offer.”
- grinding12 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often requiring repetitive actions to collect items or complete levels, which detracts from the overall enjoyment. Many reviews highlight that the need to replay sections multiple times, especially for achieving "true" endings, feels unnecessarily drawn out and lacks challenge, leading to a mediocre experience. While some appreciate the game's length and exploration, the repetitive nature of grinding is a common point of criticism.
“Because of these things, the game gradually becomes tedious to play.”
“Cool game, but really not worth playing. Getting all the gems was just way too tedious, especially those last three. I had to go through the whole level seven times, break some blocks, then go all the way back to the beginning and do it all over again. If I died, I had to start over, and that sucked.”
“This game is a thoroughly mediocre platformer whose end levels are made incredibly tedious by the seemingly tacked-on 'puzzle' elements.”
- emotional5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by its ability to blend horror and warmth, ultimately revealing a wholesome and heartwarming core beneath its eerie exterior. Players find the true ending, while cheesy, to be unexpectedly romantic and touching, contributing to a sense of emotional fulfillment and family-friendly enjoyment. Overall, the game successfully evokes a range of feelings, from unease to warmth, culminating in a memorable and heartfelt conclusion.
“This short 16-bit platforming-horror-puzzler seeps in its uncanniness quite well, peeling off layer after layer from its copy-paste kitsch until you reach its wholesome eldritch core.”
“If you collect all 240 gems and beat the secret 8th level (stupidly hard level, btw; the layer 6->5 puzzle is the worst), you get to see the true ending, which, for all its 'guy gets the girl' cheesiness, is actually pretty subversive and unexpected, which makes for one of the most romantic and heartwarming endings I've ever seen in a game like this.”
“The true ending was actually really heartwarming, somehow.”
- humor4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor begins with a lighthearted and whimsical tone, featuring cute characters and silly elements that appeal to younger audiences. However, as the game progresses, the humor takes a darker turn, juxtaposing the initial cheerfulness with unsettling themes and visuals, which can create a dissonant experience for players.
“The game starts with a very cheerful and pleasant aesthetic, but every eversion makes things drastically different than how they started, initially making silly and funny changes but gradually becoming darker and more sinister in theme until the game's atmosphere is really unsettling.”
“Eversion is cute and funny!”
“There are funny little goomba-like monsters wandering in predictable lines, and gems in place of coins.”
